Good Times Roll at Wave Gallery

People’s Choice winner, Dot Copeland, and incoming Arts president,

Marilyn Masters Arseneau, discuss works by previous Arts president, Ruth Thompson.

Good Times Roll at Wave Gallery

WAVELAND, MS—Artists and patrons gathered at Pearl River Community College’s Wave Gallery for the opening of their monthly series featuring members of The Arts, Hancock County. This month’s theme, Mardi Gras, set the tone for the event and the artwork.

The lasting partnership between The Arts and PRCC has been fruitful, allowing both the community and its students to take advantage of viewing artwork in its changing gallery.

PRCC art student Alexandria Carter illustrated, “This is my first time ever coming to the Wave Gallery and it’s been a really interesting experience. I’ve gotten the chance to talk to several local artists who explained their works to me and were very helpful. The artists here are very friendly, open, and accepting of everyone. I definitely feel that the arts community is thriving in Hancock County.”

Conversations of color and whispers of secret king cake recipes hummed around the artwork. Delightful music and refreshments engaged the rest of the senses. Entertainment was provided by Ten North Frederick of the Bay Saint Louis Little Theatre.

The non-juried show included works from fifteen Hancock County artists. A “People’s Choice” award was given to the artist with the most votes at the end. This month’s winner was Dot Copeland, with her abstract painting, “City Lights”. The winner receives free entry in the next show, and the five artists with the most votes at the end of the year receive their own five-person show. 

The show marked the beginning and end of an era, as The Arts presidency changed hands from Ruth Thompson to Marilyn Masters Arseneau.

Thompson, the self-proclaimed “benevolent dictator” of The Arts, played a critical role in the development and advancement of community projects. She stated, “Art in a community shows that the people in that community are alive. It makes life worth living.”

The show will hang in the Wave Gallery, located in the PRCC Hancock Center, until March 18, 2011. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 10 am.-4 pm.

As seen published in the Seacoast Echo on 2/2/11.